Category: NFL Playoffs

2024 NFL division predictions, Super Bowl predictions

Jess Root’s predictions for how each division will play out in 2024, who makes the playoffs and who wins the Super Bowl.

The NFL season starts tonight with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens. Then there will be 15 more games in Week 1 to kick off the season.

The Chiefs are two-time defending champions looking to win a third consecutive Super Bowl, becoming the first team to do it.

Will it happen?

It is time for some predictions. Below, I will give my predictions for how the standings will go in each division and then what will happen in the playoffs.

AFC North

  1. Baltimore Ravens
  2. Cincinnati Bengals
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers
  4. Cleveland Browns

AFC South

  1. Houston Texans
  2. Indianapolis Colts
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars
  4. Tennessee Titans

AFC East

  1. Miami Dolphins
  2. Buffalo Bills
  3. New York Jets
  4. New England Patriots

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs
  2. Los Angeles Chargers
  3. Denver Broncos
  4. Las Vegas Raiders

NFC North

  1. Detroit Lions
  2. Green Bay Packers
  3. Chicago Bears
  4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC South

  1. Atlanta Falcons
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  3. New Orleans Saints
  4. Carolina Panthers

NFC East

  1. Dallas Cowboys
  2. Philadelphia Eagles
  3. Washington Commanders
  4. New York Giants

NFC West

  1. San Francisco 49ers
  2. Los Angeles Rams
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Seattle Seahawks

AFC playoffs

  1. Dolphins
  2. Chiefs
  3. Texans
  4. Ravens
  5. Bills
  6. Colts
  7. Bengals

Wild Card round:

  • Chiefs over Bengals
  • Colts over Texans
  • Ravens over Bills

Divisional round:

  • Colts over Dolphins
  • Chiefs over Ravens

AFC Championship

  • Chiefs over Colts

NFC playoffs

  1. Lions
  2. 49ers
  3. Cowboys
  4. Falcons
  5. Packers
  6. Rams
  7. Eagles

Wild Card round

  • 49ers over Eagles
  • Rams over Cowboys
  • Packers over Falcons

Divisional round

  • Lions over Rams
  • Packers over 49ers

NFC Championship

  • Lions over Packers

Super Bowl

  • Chiefs over Lions

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

PODCAST: NFL playoff reactions; possible offseason cap-saving moves for Cardinals

Listen to the latest edition of the podcast, going over salary-saving moves the Cardinals can make in the offseason.

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in their respective conference championships to move on to Super Bowl LVIII.

In this edition of the podcast, Seth Cox and I react to each of the games and look at them from an Arizona Cardinals perspective. Maybe the Cardinals aren’t as far off as many think they are.

After that, we go over the different moves the Cardinals can do this offseason to add cap space. We don’t recommend some of them but we do go over what moves could save them space.

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Topics and times:

(1:00) Reacting to the Chiefs’ win over the Ravens

(22:17) Reacting to the 49ers’ win over the Lions

(47:43) Move the Cardinals can (not not necessarily should) make to add cap space

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NFL rookies played well on Championship Sunday

Some quality rookie performances on Championship Sunday are a strong indicator that the NFL is becoming more competitive.

Here’s a look at the NFL rookies who played well on Championship Sunday as we prepare for SBLVII next weekend.

Super Bowl 58 is a rematch of 4 years ago

The Chiefs and 49ers make it to Super Bowl LVIII.

There is just one game remaining. The NFC and AFC Championship Games were played on Sunday and the final two teams are standing.

It will be a rematch of four years ago — the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, when the Chiefs won their first title in 50 years and started their run.

The Kansas City Chiefs took down the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 to make it to the big game for the fourth time in the last five years.

The San Francisco 49ers, in the NFC title game for the second consecutive year, rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31, thanks to some questionable decisions from Detroit and an offensive awakening. They scored on all five of their offensive possessions in the second half before running out the clock at the end of the game.

The Chiefs can become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the New England Patriots did it in 2003-2004.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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49ers overcome 17-point deficit to beat Lions 34-31, make Super Bowl

The 49ers scored on five consecutive possessions while the Lions had a turnover and two turnovers on downs in the second half.

The NFC West will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in two weeks. The San Francisco 49ers rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit to beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday at home in the NFC Championship Game.

Detroit scored on four of its first five possessions taking a 24-7 lead into halftime. But their decision to go for it twice on fourth down instead of kicking makeable field goals led to two turnovers on downs, and they also had a turnover on a fumble.

Defensively, after shutting down the Niners in the first half, they allowed them to score on five consecutive possessions after halftime.

49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scored twice, rushing for 90 yards on 24 carries, and added another 42 yards on four receptions.

With the win, the 49ers return to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super in a rematch of the Super Bowl four years ago.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Chiefs make 4th Super Bowl in 5 years with 17-10 win over Ravens

The Chiefs scored two first-half touchdowns and forced two second-half turnovers to make the Super Bowl again.

The Baltimore Ravens were the latest victims of the greatness of the Kansas City Chiefs. Hosting the AFC Championship Game for the first time in their history, the Ravens fell 17-10 to the Chiefs.

The Chiefs make it to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five seasons after making the AFC title game for the sixth straight year.

The Chiefs dominated time of possession, holding the ball on offense for over 37 minutes.

The Chiefs got first-half touchdowns from tight end Travis Kelce, who caught 11 passes for 116 yards, and running back Isiah Pacheco, and that was enough. They took a 17-7 halftime lead and allowed only three points in the second half.

The Ravens didn’t score in the second half until their fifth possession and by then it was too late. They punted twice and turned the ball over twice in the end zone. Receiver Zay Flowers fumbled at the goalline and Lamar Jackson was intercepted in the end zone.

Patrick Mahomes was 30-of-39 passing for 241 yards and a touchdown in the win.

They will face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl for the second time. Their first title in their current run was over them.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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The Ravens’ bizarre offensive game plan cost them a trip to the Super Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens fell to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and their offensive game plan was a big reason why.

Often times in the NFL, coaches can overthink themselves and not learn from the peers around them, perhaps thinking they can outsmart what is right in front of them. It was a painful reminder for Baltimore Ravens fans everywhere that sometimes you should stick with the obvious, if the obvious works. In a heart breaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, offensive coordinator Todd Monken and this Ravens offense decided to stray away from their biggest strength and the Chiefs’ biggest weakness.

Just last weekend we saw the Buffalo Bills pound the rock directly down the gullet of Kansas City to the tune of 192 yards on 39 carries. While the Bills of course did not ultimately win the game, it was a brilliant yet simplistic strategy that may have been one missed kick away from working. There is little doubt the Baltimore offensive coaching staff watched that game and saw what the Chiefs did and did not do well against Buffalo, so it leaves a bit of a head scratcher as to why one of the best running games in the NFL was suddenly turned away from on the biggest stage.

The Ravens were third in offensive rush efficiency on the year and yet only ended up running the ball eighteen times in a game that was never really out of hand at any point. The Chiefs on the year were giving up 4.5 yards a run and were clearly susceptible to a running attack, even if they were paying extra attention to the running game it’s still an area you needed to attack.

It truly becomes head-scratching as to why the Ravens didn’t hand the ball off more to Gus Edwards who averaged 6.7 yards on his three carries or dialed up more designed quarterback runs. It’s a sobering reminder that sometimes the answers are right in front of you, and to go into a game with a different set of ideas than the obvious can lead to a game getting away from you.

49ers free agents for Cardinals fans to know in NFC Championship Game

Perhaps there are some future Cardinals on the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

The Arizona Cardinals are not in the postseason. They are preparing for free agency and the NFL draft.

But some future Cardinals might be in the playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions play in the NFC Championship Game and have players set to become free agents.

Below are some 49ers players scheduled to become free agents in March, fill needs the Cardinals have and could be targets.

Lions free agents for Cardinals fans to know in NFC Championship Game

These four players could be targeted by the Cardinals in free agency.

The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for the offseason and free agency. They are not in the playoffs. But there might be future Cardinals players in the NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

Below are some Lions players scheduled to hit free agency in March who fill needs the Cardinals have and whom they could target.

3 former Cardinals on practice squads of 49ers, Lions

The 49ers and Lions don’t have any former Cardinals on their regular rosters but combine for three on their practice squads.

The Arizona Cardinals are not in the playoffs but a few former Cardinals players find themselves on playoff teams.

In the NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, there aren’t any former Cardinals on their active roster.

However, there are three former Cardinals between the two teams’ practice squads.